Location: Unknown.
Comments: With wins in the Best Novelette, Best Short Story, and Best Anthology categories and another nomination in the Best Nonfiction, Reference, or Related Work category, there can be no doubt but that Harlan Ellison had a great year in the Locus Awards. Given Ellison's track record, this sort of year is not at all surprising, or even unexpected.
The other interesting thing about the 1986 Locus Awards is that David Brin's
The Postman beat out Orson Scott Card's
Ender's Game for Best Science Fiction Novel. Given the novel's respective reputations, one would expect the results to have been reversed. This is not to say that Brin's post-apocalyptic story is not a worthy winner - I actually like it more than Card's book - but with the adulation that has been heaped upon
Ender's Game, one might think that nothing could possibly beat it in a reader poll. I'm glad that Brin got the recognition over Card, partially because I think
The Postman is a better book, and partially because I think Brin is a better human being.
Best Science Fiction Novel
Winner:
1.
The Postman by
David Brin
Other Nominees:
2.
Ender's Game by
Orson Scott Card
3.
Footfall by
Larry Niven and
Jerry Pournelle
4.
Robots and Empire by
Isaac Asimov
5.
Helliconia Winter by Brian W. Aldiss
6.
The Cat Who Walks Through Walls by
Robert A. Heinlein
7.
Dinner at Deviant's Palace by
Tim Powers
8.
Brightness Falls from the Air by
James Tiptree, Jr.
9.
Cuckoo's Egg by C.J. Cherryh
10.
Always Coming Home by
Ursula K. Le Guin
11.
Blood Music by
Greg Bear
12.
Eon by
Greg Bear
13.
The Proteus Operation by James P. Hogan
14.
The Kif Strike Back by C.J. Cherryh
15.
Contact by
Carl Sagan
16.
Artifact by Gregory Benford
17.
The Memory of Whiteness by
Kim Stanley Robinson
18.
Schismatrix by Bruce Sterling
19.
Between the Strokes of Night by Charles Sheffield
20.
Chapterhouse: Dune by
Frank Herbert
21.
Ancient of Days by
Michael Bishop
22.
Emprise by Michael P. Kube-McDowell
23.
Dayworld by
Philip José Farmer
24.
Child of Fortune by
Norman Spinrad
25.
Tom O'Bedlam by
Robert Silverberg
26.
Starquake by Robert L. Forward
27.
Kiteworld by Keith Roberts
28.
The Remaking of Sigmund Freud by
Barry N. Malzberg
29.
Five-Twelfths of Heaven by Melissa Scott
30.
The Darkling Wind by Somtow Sucharitkul
Best Fantasy Novel
Winner:
1.
Trumps of Doom by Roger Zelazny
Other Nominees:
2.
The Book of Kells by R.A. MacAvoy
3.
Dragonsbane by Barbara Hambly
4.
The Vampire Lestat by Anne Rice
5.
Lyonesse II: The Green Pearl by
Jack Vance
6.
The King's Justice by Katherine Kurtz
7.
The Summer Tree by Guy Gavriel Kay
8.
The Dream Years by Lisa Goldstein
9.
With a Tangled Skein by Piers Anthony
10.
Dark of the Moon by P.C. Hodgell
11.
Silverthorn by Raymond E. Feist
12.
Mulengro by Charles de Lint
13.
Lovecraft's Book by Richard A. Lupoff
14.
Brokedown Palace by Steven Brust
15.
The Damnation Game by Clive Barker
16.
The Wishsong of Shannara by
Terry Brooks
17.
Wizard of the Pigeons by Megan Lindholm
18.
In Yana, the Touch of Undying by Michael Shea
19.
The Last Rainbow by Parke Godwin
20.
Things Invisible to See by Nancy Willard
21.
The Song of Mavin Manyshaped by Sheri S. Tepper
22.
Wings of Flame by Nancy Springer
23.
The Bronze King by Suzy McKee Charnas
24.
Marianne, the Magus, and the Manticore by Sheri S. Tepper
Best First Novel
Winner:
1.
Contact by
Carl Sagan
Other Nominees:
2.
Emprise by Michael P. Kube-McDowell
3.
In the Drift by
Michael Swanwick
4.
The Summer Tree by Guy Gavriel Kay
5.
Tailchaser's Song by Tad Williams
6.
Cats Have No Lord by Will Shetterly
7.
Masters of Glass by M. Coleman Easton
8.
Saraband of Lost Time by Richard Grant
9.
Walk the Moon's Road by
Jim Aikin
10.
Infinity's Web by Sheila Finch
11.
The Isle of Glass by Judith Tarr
12.
Saturnalia by Grant Callin
13.
The Torch of Honor by Roger MacBride Allen
14.
Children of the Light by Susan B. Weston
15.
The Warrior Who Carried Life by Geoff Ryman
16.
Song of Kali by Dan Simmons
17.
The Secret Country by Pamela C. Dean
18.
Skyrider 1: Skirmish by Melisa C. Michaels
19.
The Long Forgetting by Edward A. Byers
20.
The Sorcery Within by Dave Smeds
21.
The Princess of Flames by Ru Emerson
22.
Pandora's Genes by Kathryn Lance
23.
Down Town by Viido Polikarpus and Tappan King
24.
Ibis by Linda Steele
25.
Staroamer's Fate by Chuck Rothman
Best Novella
Winner:
1.
The Only Neat Thing to Do by
James Tiptree, Jr.
Other Nominees:
3.
Green Mars by
Kim Stanley Robinson
4.
The Plague Star by
George R.R. Martin
5.
24 Views of Mt. Fuji, by Hokusai by Roger Zelazny
6.
The Scapegoat by C.J. Cherryh
7.
Loaves and Fishes by
George R.R. Martin
8.
To the Storming Gulf by Gregory Benford
9.
Green Days in Brunei by Bruce Sterling
10.
World War Last by
Norman Spinrad
11.
The Gorgon Field by
Kate Wilhelm
12.
The Curse of Kings by
Connie Willis
13.
When Winter Ends by Michael P. Kube-McDowell
14.
How the Wind Spoke at Madaket by Lucius Shepard
15.
Duke Pasquale's Ring by
Avram Davidson
16.
George Washington Slept Here by Charles L. Harness
17.
Flight by Peter Dickinson
18.
Talion by John Brunner
Best Novelette
Winner:
1.
Paladin of the Lost Hour by
Harlan Ellison
Other Nominees:
2.
The Fringe by
Orson Scott Card (reviewed in
The Folk of the Fringe)
3.
Portraits of His Children by
George R.R. Martin
4.
The Jaguar Hunter by Lucius Shepard
5.
Dogfight by
Michael Swanwick and William Gibson
6.
Under Siege by
George R.R. Martin
7.
All My Darling Daughters by
Connie Willis
8.
A Gift from the GrayLanders by
Michael Bishop
9.
The Road Not Taken by
Harry Turtledove
10.
Storming the Cosmos by Rudy Rucker and Bruce Sterling
11.
A Spanish Lesson by Lucius Shepard
12.
The Things That Happen by
Frederik Pohl
13.
Mercurial by
Kim Stanley Robinson
14.
The End Of Life as We Know It by Lucius Shepard
15.
Kitemistress by Keith Roberts
16.
Side Effects by Walter Jon Williams
17.
The Slovo Stove by
Avram Davidson
18.
Vilest Beast by Eric G. Iverson
19.
Rockabye Baby by S.C. Sykes
20.
Solstice by
James Patrick Kelly
21.
Shanidar by David Zindell
22.
O Happy Day! by Geoff Ryman
23.
Unferno by George Alec Effinger
24.
Vestibular Man by Felix C. Gotschalk
Best Short Story
Winner:
Other Nominees:
3.
Snow by John Crowley
4.
Time's Rub by Gregory Benford
5.
Dinner in Audoghast by Bruce Sterling
6.
Mengele by Lucius Shepard
7.
No Regrets by Lisa Tuttle
8.
Flying Saucer Rock & Roll by Howard Waldrop
9.
The Gods of Mars by Gardner Dozois, Jack Dann, and
Michael Swanwick
10.
'. . . How My Heart Breaks When I Sing This Song. . .' by Lucius Shepard
11.
Hong's Bluff by William F. Wu
12.
Tourists by Lisa Goldstein
13.
Sunrise on Pluto by
Robert Silverberg
14.
Out of All Them Bright Stars by Nancy Kress
15.
Paper Dragons by James P. Blaylock
16.
The Transmigration of Philip K. by
Michael Swanwick
17.
Mozart in Mirrorshades by Bruce Sterling and Lewis Shiner
18.
My Life in the Jungle by
Jim Aikin
19.
The Poplar Street Study by Karen Joy Fowler
20.
The Great Wall by Wayne Wightman
21. (tie)
The Blind Minotaur by
Michael Swanwick
(tie)
The War at Home by Lewis Shiner
22.
The Lake Was Full of Artificial Things by Karen Joy Fowler
23.
The R Strain by Eric G. Iverson
24.
Heirs of the Perisphere by Howard Waldrop
25.
The Last Dragon Master by A.A. Attanasio
26.
The Bob Dylan Tambourine Software & Satori Support Services Consortium Ltd. by
Michael Bishop
1. Skeleton Crew by Stephen King
Other Nominees:
2.
Fire Watch by
Connie Willis
3.
Limits by
Larry Niven
4.
Nightflyers by
George R.R. Martin
5.
Melancholy Elephants by
Spider Robinson
6.
Clive Barker's Books of Blood, Vols. IV-VI by Clive Barker
7.
The Gorgon by
Tanith Lee
8.
Slow Birds and Other Stories by Ian Watson
9.
Dealing in Futures by
Joe Haldeman
10.
I Hope I Shall Arrive Soon by Philip K. Dick
11.
Anthonology by Piers Anthony
12.
Byte Beautiful by
James Tiptree, Jr.
13.
Phoenix in the Ashes by Joan D. Vinge
14.
Flight from Nevèrÿon by
Samuel R. Delany
15.
The Best of Marion Zimmer Bradley by Marion Zimmer Bradley
16.
Viriconium Nights by M. John Harrison
17.
Dragonfield and Other Stories by
Jane Yolen
18.
Beastmarks by A.A. Attanasio
19.
Eye by
Frank Herbert
20.
The Book of Ian Watson by Ian Watson
21.
Trinity and Other Stories by Nancy Kress
Best Anthology
Winner:
Other Nominees:
2. The Year's Best Science Fiction: Second Annual Collection edited by Gardner Dozois
3.
Terry Carr's Best Science Fiction of the Year #14 edited by Terry Carr
4.
The Dead of Winter edited by Robert Lynn Asprin and Lynn Abbey
5.
Universe 15 edited by Terry Carr
6.
Imaginary Lands edited by Robin McKinley
7.
The Hugo Winners, Volume 4: 1976-1979 edited by
Isaac Asimov
8. The 1985 Annual World's Best SF edited by Donald A. Wollheim with Arthur W. Saha
9. Interzone: The 1st Anthology edited by John Clute, Colin Greenland, and David Pringle
10.
Berserker Base edited by Fred Saberhagen
11.
L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future edited by Algis Budrys
12.
Liavek edited by Will Shetterly and Emma Bull
13.
The Planets edited by Byron Preiss
15.
Bestiary! edited by Jack Dann and Gardner Dozois
16.
The Year's Best Horror Stories: Series XIII edited by Karl Edward Wagner
17.
Shadows 8 edited by Charles L. Grant
18.
Nebula Awards 20 edited by George Zebrowski
19. Despatches from the Frontiers of the Female Mind edited by Jen Green and Sarah Lefanu
21.
Afterwar edited by Janet Morris
22.
The Science Fiction Yearbook edited by
Jerry Pournelle, Jim Baen, and John F. Carr
23.
After the Flames edited by Elizabeth Mitchell
24.
Whispers #21/22 edited by Stuart David Schiff
25.
The Third Omni Book of Science Fiction edited by
Ellen Datlow
26.
The Year's Best Fantasy Stories: 11 edited by Arthur W. Saha
Best Nonfiction, Related, or Reference Book
Winner:
1. Benchmarks: Galaxy Bookshelf by Algis Budrys
Other Nominees:
2. The Pale Shadow of Science by Brian W. Aldiss
3.
The Novels of Philip K. Dick by
Kim Stanley Robinson
4.
Faces of Fear: Encounters with the Creators of Modern Horror by Douglas E. Winter
5.
Science Made Stupid by Tom Weller
6.
Science Fiction: The 100 Best Novels by David Pringle
7.
Supernatural Fiction Writers: Fantasy and Horror edited by E.F. Bleiler
8.
The Atlas of the Land by Karen Wynn Fonstad
9.
An Edge in My Voice by
Harlan Ellison
10.
Ghastly Beyond Belief by Neil Gaiman and Kim Newman
11.
A. Merritt: Reflections in the Moon Pool by Sam Moskowitz
12.
Microworlds: Writings on Science Fiction and Fantasy by Stanislaw Lem
Best Magazine or Fanzine
Winner:
1.
Locus
Other Nominees:
2.
Fantasy & Science Fiction
3.
Asimov's
4.
Analog
5.
Omni
6.
Amazing Stories
7.
Interzone
8.
Science Fiction Chronicle
9.
Twilight Zone
10.
Science Fiction Review
11.
Starlog
12.
Fantasy Review
13.
Far Frontiers
14.
File 770
Best Publisher
Winner:
1. Ballantine/Del Rey
Other Nominees:
2. Putnam/Berkley/Ace
3. Tor
4. DAW
5. Bantam Spectra
6. Bluejay
7. Baen
8. Arbor House
9. Phantasia
10. Doubleday
11. Scream/Press
12. Gollancz
13. Mark V. Ziesing
14. Donald M. Grant
15. Atheneum
16. Pocket
17. Arkham House
18. Science Fiction Book Club
19. Avon
20. NAL/Signet
21. Warner/Questar
Best Artist
Winner:
1. Michael Whelan
Other Nominees:
2. J.K. Potter
3. Boris Vallejo
4. Frank Kelly Freas
5. Rowena Morrill
6. Victoria Poyser
7. Don Maitz
8. Darrell Sweet
9. Barclay Shaw
10. Frank Frazetta
11. Jim Burns
12. Vincent Di Fate
13. Carl Lundgren
14. David Mattingly
15. David A. Cherry
16. Val Lakey Lindahn
17. Tom Canty
18. Kevin Johnson
19.
Phil Foglio
Go to previous year's nominees: 1985
Go to subsequent year's nominees: 1987
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